Hello Irish forumites. I'm trying to track down Michael CLARKE of Monaghan, born 1802 or close, who was tried for highway robbery in Monaghan on 3 August 1829, and transported for life to NSW in 1830 on the "James Pattison". He died in Bathurst in Australia in 1847, but unfortunately his death records are minimal, so I can't confirm exactly where he was born. He was married to Margaret, who followed him out to NSW as a free settler on the "Margaret", which arrived NSW on 7 Jan 1839, and she was aged 40, so b. c1799.
I think its very hard to track someone in Ireland without knowing exactly where they came from, so my first question here is - does anyone have any idea if there are potentially court records existing for that trial, and where I might go about looking for them? Hopefully they will have a township or parish listed against him, possibly more.
A little more speculative, but I think another CLARKE family who came out later were also related. This is the family of Patrick Clarke who came to Australia as free settlers on the JOHN Renwick in 1841. From the arrival report:
Patrick was 34 (so b. c1807) native of Tillagrehan (?), Co Monaghan, son of Bernard a labourer dead, and Kate Daley (Foley?) also dead
Mary Clarke, native of – same as husband, daughter of Hugh McDonald (?) a labourer living, and Bridget Conley dead. Farm Servant, 33, has been ill a long time & is now unwell and weak
Michael – 9 years
Patrick – 2 years
Anne – 7 years
Again, I need to find the exact township, and have been unable to trace Tillagrehan. As always, Irish place names were mangled by the authorities on arrival - but I can't really find anything close. Any suggestions? I'll attach the handwriting in case that helps.
Any help on tracing the township/parish, or court records, would be much appreciated.
Many thanks
Alex
PS: they were all Roman Catholic
